Fulham 1 Manchester City 1: City are not in relegation dog fight, insists Hughes

Mark Hughes flatly denied that his moneybags team are facing a relegation dog fight as Manchester City stayed close to the bottom three after another disappointing result.

Even though his Robinho-less team fought hard to earn a draw against an improving Fulham, City, with ambitions to crash into English football's elite, have now won only two Premier League games out of the last 11.

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Not even the boost of a sixthminute first league goal of the season from Benjani could lift them out of their recent slump as the London side hit back to equalise and look the more likely winners.

But Hughes, who is looking to splash out on major signings in the January transfer window, refused to contemplate an ignominious battle for Premier League survival.

'I'm not unduly concerned about our recent run of form', he said. 'A couple of good wins will soon lift us up the table. We are not in a relegation dog fight. We have to pick up points sooner rather than later, but I'm sure we will do that. My teams are historically stronger in the second half of the season.'

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Blaming inconsistency on the loss of 11 or 12 senior players through injury, among them Robinho - Britain's costliest player at £32.5 million, who travelled but failed a fitness test on an ankle - Hughes believed his team could have snatched a win had they shown more composure in the final stages.

But the same could have been said of Fulham, who were disappointed not to have followed up gritty goalless draws at Anfield and Villa Park with a fourth successive home victory.

Manager Roy Hodgson was pleased with the way his players responded to going behind, when they could easily have panicked. In the opening 15 minutes, City were at their liveliest, with Shaun Wright-Phillips, in his free-running role behind the strikers, prominent.

Their goal was well taken as Benjani jumped between two defenders to head in Pablo Zabaleta's cross.

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But once Fulham had settled, they played some excellent football, should have had a penalty when Richard Dunne clearly handled in the area to stop Andy Johnson flicking the ball past him and then deservedly equalised.

Bobby Zamora set up the goal with a clever pass and Jimmy Bullard, in front of the watching England manager, Fabio Capello, drove a fierce shot inside the far post.

Bullard's overall performance, pulling the strings from midfield and coming close to a winner with two free-kicks that were saved by Joe Hart, should have done his chances of an England recall no harm at all.

'It was good to see Jimmy get forward and finish well,' said Hodgson. 'I'm sure he will be happy with his performance and happy that the England manager was here to see it.'

Bullard's clinically taken effort was a rarity in a game of numerous opportunities but wasteful finishing.

Clint Dempsey bungled one in the first half and then went close with a diving header. Zamora ballooned one over and then shaved a post with a better effort, while supposed Arsenal target Brede Hangeland had a header cleared off the line by Zabaleta - who, in turn, had two of City's best second-half chances.

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'It wasn't one of our best performances', said Hodgson. 'But we can take consolation that a year ago City would have come here expecting to win easily. Now they are pleased with a point.'

A fair point. But what does that say of City and their Abu Dhabi millions.